US-INVASION IN PANAMA IN 1989-US Murdered Up To 4000 CIVILIANS In Panama invasion

The point here is that US soldiers participated in the murders. Whether one or 4000 is irrelevant. The fact that they committed murder is what is important. Killing civilians goes against the Geneva Convention. These soldiers and their superiors should have been prosecuted but like most atrocities our military are involved in, it get’s ignored. Americans continue to show a prejudicial mindset. If it is someone not white or in another country we think nothing of it. Well look out America-It seems that martial law is closer everyday and by that time it will be too late to protest. (E)

In this SECRET cable, dated December 13, 1989 Bushnell writes that Noriega may be planning to fire the Rodriguez Administration “his civilian puppets” and to take full formal reigns of the government . And that “Many view this Noriega move as the final step toward a totalitarian regime and further sever repression.”

The opposition leadership quietly hopes that Clandestine (and other) US Action, possibly coupled with another coup will remove Noriega.

The opposition has little energy left to charge up another hill unless convinced it is the last one. Only another coup holds out such a promise, but the opposition is not able to influence that to any significant degree.

Under the section of the cable titled ‘The next coup attempt’:

Meanwhile, notorious civilian supporters of Noriega, such as [strictly protected], are already looking beyond Noriega’s departure in advocating with Emboffs an opposition declaration of amnesty for regime supporters. Sources now indicate that Noriega suspects another attempt to unseat him as early as December 15.

The final paragraph of the December 13, 1989 cable:

The political tension in panama, increased by recent press revelations and UD sanctions announcements, will likely EBB in early 1990, absent some major event. Noriega is showing no signs that he has any intention of leaving voluntarily. Given broad political realities in this country, the only hope for a first step in crisis resolution is another coup. Waiting for that to happen is the main political prospect for Panama in 1990.

The Noriega military dictatorship was supported by the United States as Noriega played a double role in Central America under the supervision of the CIA. George H.W. Bush was head of the CIA 1976-77.

Noriega supplied the Nicaraguan Contras and other guerrillas in the region with weapons and ammunition. Noriega perpetrated the assassination and torture of more than one hundred Panamanians and forced at least another hundred dissidents into exile.

The government of Panama received 12 million dollars from the Shah of Iran so that Panama would give asylum to the exiled Iranian leader asylum. In 1985-86 anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles were sent to Iran and cocaine was trafficked through the U.S.

This financial arrangement is the core of the Iran-Contra Affair which resulted in several dozen U.S. officials being prosecuted or investigated including Oliver North, John Poindexter, Elliott Abrams and Caspar Weinberger.

Operation Just Cause – the Panama Invasion by the United States

On 19 December, President George H.W. Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in Operation Just Cause, declaring that the operation was necessary to safeguard the lives of U.S. citizens in Panama, defend democracy and human rights, combat drug trafficking, and secure the functioning of the Canal. Estimated civilian deaths from the U.S. two week armed invasion range from 400 to 4,000.

Several blocks of apartments caught fire and were completely destroyed. 20,000 persons were displaced. In Panama City, after the invasion, crime and drug trafficking increased, and living conditions in some neighborhoods worsened.

Heavy damage left thousands homeless, unemployment rose, government infrastructure was left in chaos. The economic damage caused by the U.S. invasion is estimated to be between 1.5 and 2 billion dollars.

During the invasion, Manuel Noriega was deposed, the Panamanian Defense Force was dissolved and Guillermo Endara was sworn into office. Noriega was sentenced and imprisoned for drug trafficking in the United States. On April 26, 2010 Noriega was extradited to France for money laundering, his trial started on June 28, 2010 in Paris, France.

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